Sicily In June, planning route with car

One night in Agrigento is enough. Sounds like you’re driving from east to west. A nice beachside town west if Agrigento is Marinello. It is next to some great ruins. Another ruin to see in the west is Segesta. City wise, consider Trapani. In the east, Noto is a beautiful baroque city. NW of Palermo, consider staying. In Scopello. It is a nice town with great sea views and a wonderful national park for hiking. Cefalu is a very nice town, but gets very crowded in the summer. We stayed there at the Tourist Hotel which is right on the ocean and has free parking. It was so nice to have a balcony and be able to listen to the ocean while sleeping.

I was in Cefalu in the first week of June (in 2012). It was not at all crowded. But I don't know how much more crowded it would be by mid-June on your trip. I have been to Sicily 3 times, and Cefalu is my favorite town. If you have the time to take a day trip from Palermo, I would recommend it.

Also, you need nerves of steel to drive in the city of Palermo. I have driven all over the US, but when in Sicily, I rely on my wife's cousins to handle the driving.

Don't even consider driving in Palermo. It's hairy just being a pededstrian there. It will be good if you can knock off Monreale while you still have the car, though. That way you don't have to think about the bus schedule.

Going over this fall and from Agrigento I have a planned stop for a night in Selinunte to see a temple and then another stop in Erice for a couple nights. On the way to Selinunte I plan on stopping at Scala de Turche (short stop). Between Selinunte and Erice I may stop at Marsala to see the windmills and salt pans. If not there, then in Trapani. From Erice we’ll take a day trip to Segesta and Monreale and also take the funicular into Trapani.

I’ve made 3 trips to Sicily over the last 4 years.
Each trip was 2-3 weeks long.
It’s a magnificent country.
I travel with my Rick Steves backpack suitcase, Airbnb, and I take the bus. No cars!
I fly in and out of Catania.
You can take the Alibus (€4) directly from airport into Catania. Don’t stay outside Catania.
You can take a public bus up Mt Etna. How many times in your life can you walk the crater rim of an active volcano! Once you get up Mt Etna it’s USD100 for the tram/gondola/geologist tour - worth it.
It’s only 1 1/2 hour bus ride from Catania to Siracusa. Stay in Ortigia.
See the Teatro Pupi (Sicilian puppet show) in Ortigia. Approx €10.
The puppet show in Palermo is better - but may not have a show the nights you are there.
Bus to Ragusa. Airbnb there.
Can take the bus to Punta Secca from Ragusa if you want beach time.
Don’t rush through Sicily. Limit yourself to a few towns done well.
Yes, Erice is wonderful, Seluente is great, Trapani salt flats are fun.
Such beauty. So little time!
I think the buses are great. Clean, frequent, cheap.
(But I’m from California - public transportation is nonexistent here!)

Definitely drop the car before Palermo. It’s s great city for exploring on foot, you don’t want to stay out of town, and driving in the city is not advisable.

Day trips from Siracusa is a good idea. I’d want more than 3 nights, though. There’s a lot to see in Siracusa itself. Wandering Ortygia is great, the Greek sights and archeological museum are fascinating, and there are interesting churches and museums. Stay in Ortygia island, there’s a parking garage at the front of the island (near the bridge). This gives you a place to wander and enjoy before/after your day trips AND easy access to your car.

I really, really liked Scopello. Stayed at a house found on booking.com. Quick drive into the tiny village, nice for dinner. A couple miles out of town (literally under 5 miles) is great hiking and rocky, cliff side beaches in the Zingaro nature reserve. If you want nature and beach time, it’s perfect. Also easy to drive to Segesta and Erice from there. Both well worth the day trip.

The puppet show in Palermo is better...

Which puppet show in Palermo, there are several? In what way was it better than in Ortigia?